Symptoms

In most cases, gallstones do not cause any symptoms. But symptoms can develop over time.

If a gallstone blocks one of the bile ducts, it can cause sudden, severe pain in your abdomen (tummy). This is sometimes called biliary colic.

You can have other symptoms if the blockage is severe or it affects another part of the digestive system.

Abdominal pain

Gallstones can cause sudden, severe abdominal (tummy) pain. This is a cramping or colicky pain, which means it can come and go. It usually lasts for 1 to 5 hours. But sometimes it goes away after just a few minutes.

You will feel the pain:

• in the top of your tummy
• just under the ribs on the right hand side - it may spread from here to your shoulder blade

The pain is not relieved when you go to the toilet, pass wind or get sick. It's sometimes triggered by eating fatty foods. But it may happen at any time of day. It may also wake you up during the night.

This pain does not happen often. After an episode of pain, it may be weeks or months before you get it again.

You may also have times when you sweat a lot and feel sick or vomit.

When gallstones cause episodes of pain, doctors call it "uncomplicated gallstone disease".

Other symptoms

Gallstones can cause other problems in a small number of people.

This can happen if the gallstones:

• block the flow of bile for longer periods
• move into other organs (such as the pancreas or small bowel)

You may develop:

• a high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above
• more constant pain
• a rapid heartbeat
• yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• itchy skin
• diarrhoea
• chills or shivering attacks
• confusion
• a loss of appetite

Doctors call this more severe condition "complicated gallstone disease".

Complications of gallstones